Saturday September 10th was the last day of cricket for most of the Yorkshire Leagues. Harrogate, thanks to last week's total washout, had already claimed the Yorkshire League North league title. Today they entertained Stamford Bridge at St George's Road in front of the usual paltry crowd that attends their games. It is a sad reflection on a town the size of Harrogate that it cannot support one of the major clubs in Yorkshire. The crowd was swelled by a small contingent of visiting supporters but in total probably no more than between twenty and thirty people attended.
The visitors won the toss and batted on what turned out to be another fine day and another very competitive match. The Harrogate attack, boosted by the appearance of Ben Coad, the Yorkshire second XI opening bowler, took wickets at regular intervals and soon reduced the Bridge to 99-5. Only opener Boyle kept things afloat with an impressive innings of 70. When slow left armer Foster was introduced he immediately took three wickets, including that of Boyle and 118-5 soon became 118-8.
Only the last pair of Murphy and Easton added some respectability with a stand of 30, before Easton was run out by Tattersall. So Stamford Bridge all out for 152 aided by some occasional bowlers towards the end of the innings. Good, the opening batsman, who rarely bowls had two very tidy maiden overs and was allowed to lead the side in to celebrate this achievement!
Tattersall, one of nine bowlers, joins the attack.
The party atmosphere did not last long however as the champions lost three wicket for only 34 with Dominic Rhodes among the wickets early on after Easton had dismissed opener Taylor for 0. Captain George Ross decided enough was enough and proceeded to lay about him in great style taking 26 of one over with 4,6,4,4,4,4. He reached 43 off only 19 balls before being dismissed in a most unusual manner. Trying to hit the ball out of the ground, he did not connect, but in his follow through the bat hit his back and fell upon the wicket. So out hit wicket.
Sinclair, the West Indian leg spinner took that wicket and soon proceeded to take two more. Rhodes took another and Harrogate were back struggling again at 104-7. Were they going to end the season with a whimper rather than a bang. Not likely, as pace bowlers Geeson-Brown and Harry Stow put on 32 for the ninth wicket and Stow saw them home to a two wicket victory with a knock of 22 not out. Not for the first time this season the tailenders saw Gate home in a close finish.
Almost there
After the match the Harrogate captain George Ross was presented with the league trophy by President Paul Harrand alongside club Chairman Miles Rawlings. The celebrations began in earnest and the champagne corks popped. Full marks to Harrogate for a consistent season, helped by few team changes and great contributions all round to pip York and Yorkshire Academy for the title.
Champions - Harrogate
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